Container



March 28, 1939. f Q A MOQRE 2,152,322

CONTAINER Filed Jan. so, 195e 2'sheets-sheet 1q ,JM/zz, ATTORNEY untill! INVENTOR March28, 193.9.; G. A-.uMooRE CONTAINER Filed Jan.' so, 195e 2 Sheets-Sllgt 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1939 v commen George Arlington Moore,l Louisville, Ky., assignor to Humoco Corporation, Louisville, Kya, a corporation of Delaware Application January so, 193s, sei-n1 No. 61,476 iz claims. (ci. 229-1) This invention/relates to containers and more particularly to containers fabricated from webs or sheets and blanks comprising ibrous materials, such as paper, berboard, or the like.

One of the `objects of the present invention is to provide a\novel fabricated container comprising iibrous materials which is adapted to retain liquids, such as oils, without loss by leakage or absorption.

`1o Another object of the invention is to provide v20 tainer having a novel closure which is so constructed that an opening may be made therein by finger pressure, said opening having an arcuate lip surrounding the same for directing the ow of liquid from the container.

g5 'I'he above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear i'rom thefollowing detail description taken in connection with the accompanying` drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the draw- 30 ings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not designed as a denition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this latter purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference char- 35 afters refer to like parts throughout the several ews, p

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one form of con-- tainer embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on an enlarged scale taken 4U on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section and with parts broken away, the section be ing .taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 4l is ,a top plan view of the container of Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation of said containeron an enlarged scale and partly-in section;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the hatch in 50 various positions after the same has been broken;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the hatch in open position with a liquid being dispensed therefrom; and,

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged 55 scale of a portion of the top closure.

One form of the novel container comprehended by the present invention is illustrated in the drawings by way of example as. being oblong in horizontal cross-section for the purpose of facili.-

'tating the packing of the same for transporta- 5.

tion or storage. The container shown comprises a body section I0 having straight parallel side walls li and arcuate Walls I2 connecting lsaid side walls. Body I0 is preferablyI constituted by a. laminated structure .comprising four laminae 10 a, b, c andv d of ibrous sheet material in the form of blanks joined to one another by suitable adhesives such as plasticized animal glue, each of vsaid blanks having a length substantially equal to the periphery of said`body. The inner and l5 outer laminae a and d, as shown, are only about l i one-haii.' as thick as the two central laminae b and c, and the former have the ends thereof scarfed and lapped to form a smooth inner and outer surface, whereas the latter are butt jointed, alternate joints being at opposite sides of the body to insure the imperviousness thereof. It will be understood that vthe thickness of the body laminations has been exaggerated inthe drawings in the interest of clearness, the actual thickness oi' the material employed for laminae a and b'in one form o! container of substantially the dimensions illustrated in Fig. 2 being approximately .005 inch and .Ollil inch, respectively.

. In the formation of body I0, blanks a to d, inclusive, are successively wrapped abouta co1- lapsible mandrel having the desired shape and` size and pressed into intimate engagement with Vcompleted body is scarcely' visible to the naked eye. The ends of blanks-a and d are preferably Joined by a thermoplastic'adhesive` adapted to be 40 activated by a heated iron which may be pressed against the joints.

While body I0 is supported by the above mentioned collapsible mandrel, a pair oi grooves I3, having complementary inwardly extending ribs I4, are formed in each of the side walls il of the body, one adjacent the top and oneladjacent the bottom of said body. Grooves I3 may be formed by external pressure members having suitably shaped beads thereon adapted to extend into similarly shaped grooves in the side walls of said collapsible mandrel. The ribs formed on the body walls constitute means for giving additional rigidity and strength to the container and for preventing side walls Il from unduly bowing inwardly or outwardly either from the natural tendencies of the material to return, by virtue of internal stresses, to its original position, or from the pressure exerted thereon by the contents of the container. Grooves I3 constitute means for positioning the end closures o f the container and means whereby body I 0 may be supported during the insertion of said end closures and the formation of the sealing joints be` tween said body and closures, as will hereinafter appear.

In order to improve the moisture and oil-proof qualities of the container of the present invention and to render the same suitablefor conning a liquid such as oil and for containing food stuffs such as peanut butter, for example, the inner surface of body Illis preferably coated with a thin film Illa of a thermoplastic, nitrocellulose lacquer which is impervious to moisture and oils and free from odor which would contaminate food products. The lacquer employed is also adapted to be activated by heat or a solvent or both in order that the same may be utilized as a bonding medium `in forming the irnpervious seam. between body` III and its end closures, as will appear hereafter. A dry sheet of cellulose material or similar impervious material which may be sealed by heat or solvent or both may be used, if desired, in lieu of lacquer fllm I 0a. The top closure I5 for body I0 in the form illustrated. is constituted by a novel, suitably shaped blank comprising one or more sheetsvof `fibrous material laminated with a thin dry sheet of cellulose acetate I5a which is adapted to be rendered plastic by the application of heat. Acetate sheet I5a is secured to the inner surface of the closure blank by means of a suitable adhesive such as a cellulose acetate lacquer which is not affected by heat, said sheet serving to render the closure impervious to oils, moisture, etc., and to assist in rendering permanent the deformations impressed in the blank to form closure I5. In drawn or' deformed articles of the character of closure I5 comprising fibrous materials, the common tendency of warpage, distortion and other stresses is to return the material to its original shape. This tendency is counteracted in closure I5 by the acetate lamina I5a which is rendered plastic by the heat of the formingvdies, thereby avoiding the creation of similar stresses therein during the drawing and deforming operations to which blank I5, I5a is subjected. Upon removal of closure I5 from the forming dies, sheet I5a cools and sets quickly, thus becoming eifective to hold the fiber lamina under stress and render the contours` and deformations thereof permanent. When using automatic machinery, the drawn article I5 is preferably delivered into a holding die for cooling, said die constituting means for transferring the article. Closure member I5 is preferably formed from the above described laminated blank in accordance with the methodv disclosed in my Reissue Patent No. 19,504 for Flanged reinforced paper article and process of making same, issued-March 19, 1935, whereby the marginal portion I6 of said and locked in place, as will more fully appear hereafter, and arcuate wall or ledge I8 is effective to impart lateral rigidity and longitudinal iiexibility to closure I5. Groove I1 should be made sufliciently wide to avoid excessive strains lon and weakening of the fibers and material of the blank during ,the deforming operations.

Novel means are provided, preferably as a part of closure or cover I5, whereby an opening for 'dispensing the contents of the container may be ,constituted that the opening formed when the seal or hatch is broken will be surrounded by a flow directing lip which is effective to limit the spread of the liquid stream flowing from the container and to prevent dripping when the flow is stopped. In the form shown, such means comprise a raised area 20 in closure I5, preferably of a triangular-like shape, the base line thereof in the plane of said closurebeing substantially per- 2 pendicular to side walls II, and the apex thereof being adjacent one of the arcuate walls I2 (Fig. 4). That portion of closure I5 which joins area 20 andthe remainder of said closure is in the'form of a short, outwardly convex arc 2|, the upper vedge of which converges toward the center of said area and constitutes, as will hereinafter appear, a flow directinglip for directing the flow of liquidor other contents from the container. H 1^'- Along the two sides of area''20 'which converge at the apex thereof a triangular plow-shaped furrow.22 is cut, said furrow preferably extending approximately three-quarters of the way through -blank I5. In order that acetate sheet I5a on the innersurface of said blank will not be damaged'.

or the moisture and air proof qualities of the container destroyed, the pressure exerted by the.

knife or edge employed in cutting -furrow 22 is relieved by means of a groove in the pressure resisting die which engages the face of blank I5 opposite said knife or cutting edge. A bead or ridge 23 is thus formed on the ,inner surface of cover -I5 and'the impermeability thereof maintainedQwhile a line of weakness is established which enables a user to break an opening of predetermined size and shape in the container by finger pressure Without the use of a knife or other implement. Furthermore, furrow 22 being cut by a plow-shaped knife, the fibers of the blank are cleanly sheared thereby, and crystallization of the uncut fibers which would result from excessive compression thereof is prevented. The plow-shaped knife cuts the furrow so that wall 24 thereof approaches the vertical, as more clearly seen in'Fig. 5, thus insuring a clean'break along the line of cleavage at the apex of furrow 22 when pressure is applied" to area 20 and eliminating any likelihood of flaking of the material and consequent contamination of the contents thereby. If desired, a similarly shaped furrow 22 may also be cut in the opposite end of cover I5 to provide a hatch 20a for readily making an air Vvent to facilitate pouring of the contents.

It will be noted that the hatch seal 23 may'I be broken to open the container by the application of an inwardly directed pressure on area I2II, thus forcing hatch or flap 25 inside of said container. If it is desired to pivot flap 25 outwardly after the material is sheared along the line of 22 or to break the hatch seal by pulling outwardly on said ap, a lug 26 constituted by the material of blank I5 may be'formed adjacent the apex of iiap 25 of area 20. In the embodiment illustrated, lug 26 has a triangularly shaped outline.. the base thereof being constituted by a substantially vertical wall portion 21 while the surface of the lug inclines downwardly from the upper edge of said vertical wall to the plane of area 20' (Fig. 5). By engaging wall 21 with ones iingernail, flap or hatch 25 may be readily pivoted either from sealed position, or from the full-line position of Fig. 3, to the dotted line position of Fig. 3. When flap 25 is in said dotted line position, the contents of the container may be readily poured through the opening formed by the removal of said flap.

After the formation of closure I5 in the manner above described, the same is secured in the open .end of body I0 by a novel seam formation bethe upper edge of body III is rst flowed or curled inwardly on a small radius to initiate the curl 26 and then on a larger radius to direct said curl into groove I1, thus overlapping the marginal portion of the body and flange I6 so as to interlock the same. Thereafter, a downwardly directed pressure is exerted on the upper edger29 of the multi-ply seam thus formed to press curl 28 into intimate contact with the walls of groove I1, and oppositely directed lateral pressures are exerted on surfaces 3U and 3| with simultaneous application of heat to press the plies of the seam into close contact with one another. A solvent which may be applied to the inner -surface of body I0 or to flange I6 prior to the flowing operation and/or heat conducted through the plies of the same from surrounding die members are effective to activate lacquer nlm Illa at points 32 and 32a and to render an annular area of acetate sheet I5a plastic, said area being indicated in section at 32. 'Ihe simultaneous exertion of pressure on opposite sides of tlie seam is leffective to distribute the activated adhesive and plastic acetate material between the plies and press the same into the interstices thereof. The seam 1aminations constituted by flange la and the wall ci body I0 are thereby substantially welded to one another at both the inner and outer surfaces of said flange, thus hermetically sealing the container and providing a sealed enclosure for edge I6a of flange I6 t protect the same against contact by moisture, either from within or without the container.

Fibrous materials are subject to penetration by moisture, and this is particularly true atpoints where the fibers thereof have been severed or sheared, such as in the formation of grooves 22 and 22' in the present container. Moisture coming in contact with the vfibers under excessively humid conditions is effective to permeate the fibrous material to such an extent as to weaken the same. A coating or iilm Ib (Figs. 3 and 8) of moisture proof lacquer or othersuitable substance is accordingly preferably applied, such as by spraying, to the outer surfaces of container I0 and the top and bottom end closures, said coating covering the walls of grooves 22 and 22', as best seen in Fig. 8. Film Illb, besides rendering the outer surface of the container moisture resistant, also serves to give a high gloss and pleasing appearance to the container. If desired, the material of the body and closures may be impregnated with a water prooi' substance in lieu of lm.-I0b.

The bottom closure, although not shown in the drawings,v is preferably of the same construction as top closure I5, except that no hatch and raised area 2li nor vent 22' are provided therein. Said bottom closure may be inserted and secured in the lower end of body I 0 in the same manner as above described for top closure I5.

To open a container embodying the present invention, pressure may be applied against lug 26, which thus serves as a locating deformation defining the proper point for application of pressure to open the hatch. The hatch sealis broken along the line of cut or furrow 22 when said pressure-is applied, and flap 25 moved to the full line intact after the hatch seal has been broken and flap 25 removed, thereby forming a ow directing lip, the curved contour of which gives the uid passing thereover an initial directionv of flow toward the center of the pouring opening. Excessive spread of the fluid stream isthus prevented, and said stream is so directed that there will be no interference to ow by the seam joining body I0 and closure I5. To increase the freedom of flow, vent 20a may be opened by lapplication of finger pressure thereto. c

There is thus provided a novel impervious container fabricated from fibrous and acetate materials and adapted for transporting liquids, oils, or greases, as well as other substances, said novel container being so constructed that an opening having a'fiow directing lip surrounding the same may be readily made therein by finger pressure. The container may be made of light, inexpensive materials and manufactured in large quantities and at low cost. The oblong shape of the container facilitates handling of the same in the larger sizes. The arrangement of the laps in the side walls of the body not only insures an impervious container, but the added thickness, or

undue bulk, in prior containers having overlapped joints is avoided, thereby greatly facilitating the operation of the fabricating tools. Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto, but that various changes may be made in the shape and size of the container and in the particular type of seam illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference will be had primarily to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising a body and a closure member therefor, the latter comprising a blank including fibrousv material having a raised area and a furrow adjacent the outer edge of said area formed by cutting some of the fibers 'of said blank.

2. In a container, a closure member comprising a blank having a raised portion with outwardly curved arcuate walls connecting the same with the remainder of the blank and a furrow cut into said portion and constituting a line of cleavage for making an opening in the closure.

3. In a container, a closure membercomprising 4 a blank of substantially uniform thickness throughout, said blank having a raised-portion, the side walls of the latter being arcuate in section, and a furrow constituting a line of cleavage cut in said raised portion adjacent said side walls.

4. In a container, a closure member comprising a blank of substantially uniform thickness throughout, said blank having a raised portion, the side walls of the latter being arcuate in section, a? furrow constituting a line of cleavage cut in said raised portion adjacent said side walls, and a second raised portion on the rst whereby the latter may be manipulated after the material of the yblank is severed along said line of cleavage.

5. A container comprising a body and a closure member therefor, the latter comprising a blank including fibrous material having a raised area,

` a furrow adjacent the outer edge of said area to form a hatch, said furrow being formed by cutting some of the bers of said blank, and a raised portion in said area constituting a lug for manipulating the hatch.

6. In a container, a closure member comprisj ing a blank having two vertically spaced portions of substantially equa-1 thickness, an arcuate Wall connecting said portions, and a furrow cut in the outermost of said portions adjacent the upper edge of said connecting wall.

a furrowl constituting a line of cleavage cut in the outermost of said portions adjacent the periphery thereof to form a hatch.

8. In a container, a closure member comprising a blank, two vertically spaced portions', an

10. In a containen'a closure constituted by a.

blank comprising a raised area, a furrow cut in said area to form a hatch, and a flow directing lip surrounding the opening adapted to be made in said closure by the hatch.

11. In a container, a closure member comprising a blank having a raised portion adjacent one end thereof with outwardly curved arcuate walls connecting the same with the remainder of the blank, a furrow cut into said portion and constituting a line of cleavage for making an opening in the closure` and a furrow cut into the opposite end of said blank and constituting a line of cleavage for making a second opening in the closure.

12. In a container, a body, and an end closure therefor constituted by a deformed blank comprising fibrous materials and havingA a furrow cut therein to form the outline of a hatch and a deformation constituted by an outwardly drawn raised portion in said hatch whereby the latter may be manipulated.

GEORGE ARLINGTON MOORE. 

